MTL - The Crimson Dragon - Chapter 16

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

“Push her! You can’t let her get back up!”

“That’s right! You have to straighten out that heinous b*tch!”

A goddess of war whose fearsome reputation enveloped East Asia was betrayed and killed. Then, she was reborn as Caroline Lambert, a vulnerable lady with a tarnished reputation in New York City! Despite being the daughter of an important family, her family heavily favored her stepsister, so the bullying and physical abuse were frequent. Her fiancé, who used to woo her fervently, stood before the public with her stepsister in his arms as he declared their engagement annulled, making her a joke amongst the rich and important.

Her stepsister was also cunning enough to steal her position and take away all the affection that should have been hers, and smeared her name to the point that she was condemned by everyone! And yet, when the goddess of war reincarnated as Caroline, everything became different!

Withstanding the malicious slander, she carved out a new, bloody path. Insults from her family? Attempting to steal her late mother’s estate?

Caroline issued papers announcing that they had cut all ties, and that her mother’s estate would be donated to charity! See here, she would rather donate every coin to charity than keep them for you!

They were saying that she was a piece of trash who had nothing going for her? Sorry, but she was a prodigious doctor, a mercenary, a racer, and a top hacker…

Though Caroline wanted revenge for the body’s original owner, she inadvertently picked up a sickly, beautiful man. Seeing that he did not have long to live, Caroline agreed to his proposal… Only to find that like her, he was a man with multiple identities that could leave New York shaking once revealed!

Caroline: Aren’t you supposed to die an early death? Liar!

Edwin: It’s not a lie. My wife clearly pities me!

Li Jing, who is unemployed in a first-tier city, obtains a system where enjoying life can double the amount of money spent.[Congratulations, host for spending two thousand yuan to enjoy gourmet food, positive emotion one star, return ten times the consumption amount of twenty thousand yuan.][Congratulations, host for spending fifty thousand yuan to stay in a luxury hotel, positive emotion two stars, return twenty times the consumption amount of one million yuan.][Congratulations, host for spending one hundred thousand yuan to enjoy the pleasure of purchasing luxury goods, positive emotion three stars, return...]By becoming wealthy through the system, Li Jing finally experiences the joy of life, luxurious spending, perfect service, and transcendent status, all of which make him deeply understand the power of money.Especially those once unattainable goddesses, due to Li Jing's improved economic level and upgraded social circles, wonderful and unforgettable stories centered around him occurred.In the top floor suite of the world's tallest building, Li Jing stands with a wine glass in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the entire city, and sighs:“People without money are merely alive.People with money truly live.”

Aiden Nightshade wakes up in a dark, unfamiliar forest with no memories of who he is or how he got there. The air is thick with danger, and monstrous creatures lurk in the shadows, watching him. Before he can even move, a glowing panel appears in front of him.[Welcome to the Ultimate Bond System.]A cold, synthetic female voice echoes in his mind. It tells him to tame the beasts, bond with them, and grow stronger together. But this system isn’t normal. When Aiden forms a bond with a beast, it doesn’t just become his companion—it transforms into a powerful humanoid woman, one who still has the instincts and memories of the creature she once was. They aren’t just allies. They feel his pain, share his power, and their devotion to him is absolute.As Aiden explores this strange world, he quickly realizes something—no one else can do what he does. Other tamers can control beasts, but they can’t make them evolve like he can. They do have a system but nothing like his.With his growing army of beast-women by his side, Aiden will carve his own path, breaking the rules of this world. And when he discovers that the deepest bonds unlock unimaginable strength, he understands one thing—this isn’t just about surviving.It’s about rising above everything. It’s about domination.In a world ruled by beasts, only one man will stand at the top.